Q: Mr. Federal Way, the city is up to all sorts of new expenditures this year, from agreeing to help fund a new Performing Arts and Conference Center, to building a Town Square Park and, most recently, purchasing the former Target site for $8.2 million. Given all of these new amenities and ventures, why can’t our city find it in their coffers to get a homeless shelter built, or at least a day shelter where the homeless can take showers, wash their clothes and get some needed social services to help move them out of homelessness? Is it just me, or do the city’s priorities seem screwed up?

A: To the city’s credit, Mayor Jim Ferrell and other Council members recently attended an assembly, in which over 200 people — including homeless individuals — called on city officials to work with local organizations to find an appropriate site and secure funding to develop a day shelter in Federal Way.

“The answer is yes and we’re going to look for a number of partners,” Ferrell said.

So the city’s commitment is evident.

However, Mr. Federal Way wonders what all of the homeless people are doing to stay warm this time of year.

During the assembly, Nicholson, who is homeless, described how homeless people usually go to the library because people don’t notice them as much.

“There, I can throw my wet coat off and throw my socks on the heater.”

When Mr. Federal Way steps outside, Mr. Federal Way can’t help but shiver during these cold winter days. Mr. Federal Way’s immediate reaction is to grab a pack of hand warmers so Mr. Federal Way’s fingers won’t turn to icicles.

Mayor Jim Ferrell has immediate reactions too. He jumped at the opportunity to build the downtown park and when he thought a developer was interested in the former Target site, he sprung into action and grabbed the property.

Mr. Federal Way thinks what is missing from the homeless equation in Federal Way is city official’s same sense of urgency in finding the homeless some shelter.

Mr. Federal Way implores Ferrell and each of the Council members to stop what they are doing — at this very moment — and step outside. Chances are, they will feel the cold seep into their bones. But would that be enough to light a fire beneath them and find a solution right now? Probably not.

So what will it take to move city officials to action? An entire night outside? Mr. Federal Way doesn’t have an answer to this.

But Mr. Federal Way hopes they will find some kind of temporary shelter for the homeless — right now — while officials work to find a permanent solution. Open the doors to the Federal Way Community Center, set up cots in the basketball court area for the homeless to sleep on at night. Ask the community to donate bedding, food and to help operate the temporary shelter.

The city has already established the community center as a heating and cooling center during inclement weather, as well as an emergency shelter during disasters. What’s stopping the city from taking immediate action to combat this homeless crisis in Federal Way?

Q: Mr. Federal Way, over the summer I worked for the city’s Parks Department as a volunteer to remove spray-painted directional markings in and around Celebration park and the BPA trial. I did an investigation and found that the spray-painting was being done by some of the high school students and running groups who use the trail for training and races. The Parks Department seemed to have trouble with stopping this from happening. The spray-painted arrows were placed in numerous spots over and over again in many colors based on the race that day, and nobody came along to clean up. Running groups spray-painted asphalt, grasses, shrubs, bridges and trees. Most of the spray-paint used was permanent, while others used spray chalk, or standard chalk. Do you think high schools and running groups should be able to paint permanent and non-permanent arrows on the trials and parks within Federal Way?

A: Runners and bicyclists use route markings for various reasons, including as warnings before blind corners or intersections and as directional tools to ensure they are heading in the right direction.

In Columbus, Ohio, some so-called “maintenance vigilantes” even took it upon themselves to mark protrusions and uneven sections of a trail, according to The Columbus Dispatch.

Mr. Federal Way thinks this is a good thing that will help runners and bicyclists avoid trouble spots on any given trail.

But temporary route markings should be just that — temporary.

And if our Parks

Department is utilizing staff or even volunteers to remove these markings, then those are resources being wasted on a trivial cause.

These high school students and running groups have been allowed to paint these markings up and down the trials with no sign of punishment and it’s likely they will continue to do so out of habit.

So what should the city do? The city’s code enforcement personnel could issue vandalism citations to these groups, if the city keeps track of who uses the trails for any given event.

And running groups can be educated to use removable markings, including spray chalk or paper arrows with non-toxic adhesive that disintegrate from wear (a simple Google search for “route arrows” should give you some options).

Q: Mr. Federal Way, are you glad the city moved its annual tree lighting this year from The Commons mall to Town Square Park?

A: None of your business.

Got a question for Mr. Federal Way? Email mrfederalway@federalwaymirror.com